Foreign Minister Bearbock Admits Germany Lacks Arms Stock To Help Ukraine

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. (Wikimedia Commons/boellstiftung)

JAKARTA - German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, admits it is seriously short on weapons at the moment, unable to deliver more weapons to Ukraine as promised.

In an interview with the Bild am Sonntag newspaper, Foreign Minister Baerbock insisted Berlin was ready to support Kyiv militarily and financially. However, unable to send more weapons at this time.

"I understand that Ukraine wants faster and larger deliveries. But we don't have the working bulk quantities, the modern systems needed at the moment, and ready for delivery in our current stock", she said, as reported by Sputnik News on August 29.

Minister Baerbock also recalled Germany's promise to defend the Baltic states, highlighting that Berlin needed weapons itself.

Baerbock went on to assess Kyiv's need for weapons supplies for a long time, potentially more than a year.

"Of course, I want (the conflict) to end as soon as possible, but, unfortunately, we have to assume, next summer Ukraine will still need new heavy weapons", she said.

Germany remains one of the main donors of military aid with $1.7 billion spent or pledged in arms spending to help Ukraine end the conflict.

The aid included Gepard and IRIS-T anti-aircraft armaments, Mars dual rocket launchers, Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers, 70mm missile launchers, and all manner of ammunition, shells, and missiles.

It is known, that Russia believes the delivery of western weapons only prolongs the conflict. The Kremlin points out that since the first weapons started coming from the West, Kyiv has abandoned all attempts to negotiate a swift and diplomatic end to the conflict that would save the lives of many Ukrainians.